Anthropic just rolled out a new identity verification system for some Claude users and it’s one of the biggest moves around trust and safety in AI this year. Now, Claude Free, Pro, and Max users will need to verify their identity with a government-issued photo ID and, sometimes, a live selfie before they can use certain Claude features or get back into their accounts.
The company says this change helps cut down on abuse, boosts security, and keeps them in line with legal requirements. They’re working with Persona, a third-party verification service. Anthropic insists they only use your data for ID checks, not for training their AI models but this has started off a heated debate, especially among users who are worried about privacy and access.
Anthropic Imposes Identity Verification on Claude Usage for Users
Most of the time, Anthropic would require a valid government photo ID and a camera to finish the identity verification process. Here’s what you can expect:
- Persona, a third-party provider, handles verification.
- You might need to provide a passport, driver’s license, national ID, or state/provincial ID.
- Sometimes, you’ll have to take a live selfie to match your ID.
- Anthropic says your documents aren’t used to train Claude.
- Persona stores the ID images and selfies, not Anthropic itself.
- Screenshots, photocopies, student IDs, employee badges, or temporary paper IDs usually won’t work.
This new rule fits with a broader trend in tech, which is, companies want stricter ID checks to help prevent people from misusing increasingly advanced AI systems.
A key part of the policy is that you have to be 18 or older to use Claude. Anthropic uses a mix of age checks and behavior analysis to flag accounts that might belong to someone underage. If they flag your account, you’re locked out until you confirm your age. If you can prove you’re 18 or older, you can get your account back. But if you’re actually under 18, you’re not allowed to use Claude at all, by the company’s current rules.
How to Unban Your Account if You Get Suspended Despite being Over 18
Some users say Claude’s age-check system wrongly flagged them, even though they’re adults. Anthropic suggests you finish the ID verification and, if that doesn’t work, file an appeal. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Review the Suspension Notice
Check your email or notifications from Anthropic to see why you were suspended, whether it’s because of age verification, ID verification, or something else.
Step 2: Complete Identity Verification
Submit all required documents through Anthropic’s official help form.
- Make sure your ID isn’t expired.
- The image needs to be clear, no blurriness or cropping.
- Your account information matches your ID.
- Take your selfie in good lighting if it’s required.
Bad images or expired documents can cause you to fail verification.
Step 3: Wait for Verification
After you submit everything, you’ll have to wait for Anthropic to review your documents. Timing depends on how many requests they have and if your case needs extra attention.
Step 4: Appeal if You’re Still Suspended
If you’re still locked out after verification, reach out to Anthropic’s support to appeal. When you appeal:
- Clearly state you’re over 18.
- Say you’ve completed the verification steps.
- Add any ticket or reference numbers.
- Ask for a manual review.
Step 5: Follow Up with Support
If you don’t hear back in a reasonable amount of time, follow up on your original support ticket (don’t create new ones). This helps support teams keep track.
As a part of their safety process, Anthropic may have banned your account for the following reasons despite you being over 18:
- Repeated violations of their Usage Policy
- Account creation from an unsupported location
- Terms of Service violations
If you believe your account has been unfairly banned, fill out this appeal form with your account information so Anthropic’s Safeguards team can further investigate why your account was disabled.
Also read: OpenAI’s New GPT-5.5 Model Beats Claude Opus 4.7 in Major Benchmarksclaude account ban appeal form
Social Media Reactions Show a Divided Community
This announcement has really split the community online. Plenty of people support stricter ID checks, they think it cuts down on spam, abuse, and fraud, and that better accountability is only going to get more important as AI gets more powerful and deeply integrated into our daily lives.
But just as many people are raising red flags about privacy. Some wonder if it’s acceptable to require a government ID just to use an AI chatbot. Others worry about having to upload their biometrics, how their data gets stored, or about losing access if the ID check goes wrong.
One common worry is false positives like adults getting flagged as underage, by mistake. Some suggest that if verification gets any stricter, users may ditch Claude for other AI tools with fewer requirements. Take a look at this X conversation to know more about people’s diverse opinions on this update.
🚨 Anthropic just updated its privacy policy.
— Kai (@hqmank) June 15, 2026
Claude Free, Pro, and Max users may soon be asked for age or identity checks.
Verification data can include government ID, face photos/videos, and facial geometry templates.
Individual developers are the first group in scope for… pic.twitter.com/U9XaHglvJE
Anthropic’s ID checks mark a real shift in how AI companies are tackling safety, legal compliance, and holding users accountable. By requiring government-issued IDs for some users and sticking to a strict 18+ rule, they’re trying to build more guardrails around advanced AI access. However, the mixed response from users shows that concerns about privacy, convenience, and account security remain unresolved.
